flhrsi
Shawangunk, NY
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Joined: 01/24/2004
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THIS TOTALLY SUCKS! The only interesting part of the MoCo for years now, and they go and kill it! I'm completely bummed. This is a stooooopid mistake, and forebodes the death of the entire company.
Greenman.
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Hawg Man
Lakeland, FL
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Joined: 10/26/2006
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I think you may be holding the burial ceremony before the body's cold.
The way I read it, H-D is going to be selling both brands - Buell and MV-Agusta.
The brands may no longer be a part of the H-D family, but I doubt either one is dead.
The goal is to refocus on the core products - Big V-Twin motorcycles.
I fail to see a negative side to that plan.
"$15,000, a new leather jacket, and 15 miles under your butt does NOT make you a biker."
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flhrsi
Shawangunk, NY
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Only MV Augusta and Cagiva are for sale. Buell is being shut down; production of bikes has already stopped.
The negative is when you only sell a dinosaur product, only dinosaurs will buy it. Huge numbers of young riders who do not have the cash to buy a big twin are being lost to the competition. HD had a golden opportunity to bring those riders into the HD fold with innovative, competitive products that were at a reasonable price. Buells already outhandle almost everything on the road; with a decent engine they could have owned the sportbike market. Then, you'd have people who love the Harley brand spending money with the brand throughout their lives. Instead, HD has proven yet again that their heads are shoved firmly into the sand, absolutely refusing to innovate. So, they focus on their core audience, which gets smaller every year, while they ignore the competition who builds better and better cruisers while also feeding the needs of the younger, less well-heeled buyer. The murder of Buell shows just how clueless HD management is. They never supported the brand in the dealerships, never marketed the bikes in any significant way. Then Buell, in its FIRST YEAR OF COMPETITION, wins the AMA championships; a publicity boon that could've been exploited to the hilt amongst those who value actual performance over shallow "style". But what does HD do? Instead of capitalizing on this proof of how good Buells are, the scuttle the company. F*cking idiots.
Mark my words, the death knell is sounding for what used to be the greatest motorcycle in the world. It's just a matter of time.
Greenman.
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THEBurninator
Washburn, MO
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Joined: 08/11/2003
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I've been reading for years that Buell represents Harley's youth market, but I don't believe it. For every young guy I know that wants a Buell, there are three guys his age lusting after a Harley.
Buells sell fairly well in this area, but they don't seem to get as much support on national forums.
Harley's floundering right now because of a bad economy and some bad decisions made by their financing department. I believe we'll see the Buell nameplate make a comeback in a few years.
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10ecjazzman
Nashville, Tennessee
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Joined: 01/24/2007
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Buells are cool bikes for sure. I see them as a niche market bike even more so than a Harley. Even if I wanted a Buell, they don't quite fit my 6' 2" 260 lb. body, As far as the business part of this..Harley bought MV Augusta to flip it like you do a house. I am sure there was something that HD needed that MV had even if we will never know what it was. HD has done this kind of thing before but then so has GM and Ford. If the Buell product is such winner in the marketplace it will resurface again. Companies build for who's buying..Buell may have had trouble just because they didn't address the fact that the old dinosaurs are the ones with disposable income and credit! Look around..most businesses are having a little trouble obtaining the profit margins they need...So they are having corporate yard sales unloading unprofitable assets. Surely HD is not the only company that is hurt by the fact that those dollars that used to be free are being held onto. Its really no choice if you can keep your old Harley and still afford your mortgage and your medicine (Dinosaurs need medicine). Pure speculation and opinion on my part.
* This post was
edited 10/16/09 03:49pm by 10ecjazzman *
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Ride_Slow2004
Northwest
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Joined: 02/02/2005
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Buell out here existed as a niche bike in a niche market. They were owned by passionate riders, that were very brand loyal, and could overlook the quirks that came with the bike. They were dissed by many of the younger riders as a 'reach', never really seen as a viable answer to the metrics.
Even the Ulysses, which I thot was a really neat idea, didn't see much use. Our population is getting bigger, and Buell is a small bike. Leastways, I didn't fit, at 6'1", and not quite as many lbs as 10ecjazzman.
As far as the racing, they were making NASCAR style adjustments to the rules to keep Buell competitive. I don't see a problem with that, but it is a reality.
I think Harley will work its way thru this time. They are cutting back people, and the dealers are making deals. Saw a brand new 09 Ultra for 20,999. Two tone, no ABS. Just offered a deal today on an Ultra Limited at 24,999. Our local dealers are still selling bikes, and although I am not seeing 18 to 25 yr olds in the store, I am seeing late 20 to early 30's coming in.
I don't think the Co. is a dinosaur, they have a core market, that will buy. I am not that guy, I ride the bike that fits, just happens to be an Ultra.
I would like to own a Buell, I would like to see the company reqroup, and make a bike that fits me.
Then again, I keep looking at the Concours.......
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"If people concentrated on the really important things in life, there'd be a shortage of fishing poles."
-Doug Larson
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flhrsi
Shawangunk, NY
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Joined: 01/24/2004
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And the 2010 Concours has some a** kicking new features. The '09 was my second choice, and only because I got such a smoking deal on my BMW. If it was today with the '10, I'd be really torn.
Dig this: http://thekneeslider.com/archives/2009/10/06/2010-kawasaki-concours-14/
G
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10ecjazzman
Nashville, Tennessee
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It looks like more than NASCAR type rule changes. This is an excerpt from a L.A. Times article blog on Buell "Buell has never really produced a true sportbike. When AMA rewrote the rules to allow the 1125 to race against the 600s that should send a message about Buell's Sportbike." Ouch! I really hope Buell does make it. While we are confessing about bikes we are lusting after..I have been looking at the Victory Crossroads....and I don't know why , but I am drawn to the Triumph Rocket III....and FJR1300!
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flhrsi
Shawangunk, NY
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Joined: 01/24/2004
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Check this out!!!
The new 2010 Rocket III Roadster will be in my stable right next to my mighty 2008 K1200S. This video is awesome!
164 ft/lb of torque!!!
The new Rocket III Roadster
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howsit2003
J'ville,Florida
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Joined: 09/13/2005
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....my observations...based on this years Bike Oktoberfest in Daytona just last week.
1. No question....bike week has had it's days....where there would be 500,000 bikes....now only 100,000...maybe...
2. It used to be if you did'nt book a hotel room 6 months before bike week started....you'd be outa luck....now...ocean side hotel rooms still available 2 days before bike week.
3. Noticeable increase in " black *" riders....a lot of them on Harleys, where before most " black " riders would be on metrics....( * african-american if you prefer )
4. Noticeable increase in women riders......
5. Noticeable increase in crotch rocket riders ( younger crowd )...
6. Noticeable increase in metric cruisers....
I can't say whether H-D days are numbered...but for sure..it ain't like it used to be....back in the 80's...it was almost mandatory for every 40 yr old plus dude to have a H-D....
It's mostly the old hard core H-D establishment still ride H-D's....
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